Work starts on 720 Carlisle residences

Persimmon Homes Lancashire has commenced delivering a mixture of apartments, bungalows, and houses on 81 acres off Wigton Road in Morton, a suburb of Carlisle.

Carlisle MP Julie Minns was on hand for the groundbreaking ceremony.

“Building 1.5m homes across the country is a key priority for this government, and I am delighted to see that momentum right here in Carlisle,” Minns said.

“We need to build these houses to ensure that local people and the next generation are not priced out of their own community. This development is a great example of how we can deliver high-quality, energy-efficient homes alongside the vital investment in schools and transport that our city needs to thrive.”

Julie Minns MP, in the red coat, participated in a groundbreaking ceremony for the 720-home development, alongside representatives from the housebuilder. Credit: via Persimmon Homes Lancashire

Persimmon had signed its legal agreement in December with Cumberland Council to secure planning permission for 720 homes to be built on the plot, following the council’s planning committee voting in favour of the scheme in July. Housing has been envisioned on this site since outline permission for 825 homes was approved in 2010.

As per its Section 106 deal, Persimmon will contribute more than £4m towards local infrastructure and services, including more than £3m for primary school education.

The homes to be built will have between two and five bedrooms and fall across 45 house types, including 68 that will come from Persimmon’s Charles Church brand. A total of 216 are set to be designated as affordable, either transferred to a housing association or sold at below market value to locals.

Persimmon has also reserved 32 acres of the site for public open space, including children’s play areas, a multi-use games area, and allotments.

Geoff Brown, construction director at Persimmon Lancashire, said: “This development will provide a range of high-quality, energy-efficient homes and deliver substantial investment into local infrastructure and services. We look forward to welcoming our first residents and continuing to work closely with local stakeholders as the development progresses.”

The planning project team for the scheme included ERAP Consultant Ecologists, EDGE Consulting Engineers, Wardell Armstrong,

You can learn more about the proposals by searching 21/0351 on Cumberland Council’s planning portal.